VERO BEACH — Indian River County school officials are weighing major restructuring options what could involve rezoning attendance boundaries as they grapple with persistently low enrollment and mounting financial pressures.
District leaders say enrollment has dropped by roughly 2,000 students over the past six years, leaving schools operating at about 74% capacity overall. At some campuses, utilization has dipped to 62%, with projections warning it could fall below 50% without intervention, according to Superintendent David Moore.
“We can’t keep going like this,” Moore told a recent school board meeting. “Rezoning and other changes are essential to balance our resources and ensure we’re not wasting taxpayer dollars on underused facilities.” Moore also said that if we want to hold true to the campuses that are not yielding full schools, the district will be financially bankrupt.
Concerned parent Michael Marsh voiced his alarm: “When you hear the word bankrupt, that’s a heck of a word to use, a very scary word.”
The push comes amid broader challenges for the district, which serves about 17,000 students. A failed referendum earlier this year denied the schools $22.5 million in additional funding, forcing budget cuts that could eliminate programs and increase class sizes. Officials have already saved $1.2 million through a strategic reorganization in June, but more belt-tightening may be needed.
Enrollment declines mirror trends in other Florida districts, where homeschooling and private options have siphoned students post-pandemic. In Indian River County, middle schools are hurting the most, leading to talks about combining them or changing special magnet programs to draw families back.
Parents and teachers have mixed reactions. Some welcome the potential for more efficient operations, while others worry about longer bus rides and disrupted community ties if zones shift.
No final choices have been made yet, and the school board plans to review proposals in the coming weeks and will hold meetings for public comment.
